Answers to Frequently Asked Questions for 2008-2009

You get a portable computing system that will satisfy your basic computing needs during your undergraduate career at Rose-Hulman. The unit was selected to ensure that it will be compatible with the campus computing network, classroom equipment, program requirements, and that it will be useful throughout your undergraduate studies at Rose-Hulman. In particular, the laptop computer was chosen to allow you to connect to other computers on campus through Rose-Hulman`s campus-wide computer network. Thus, you will be able to use the laptop in the classroom, your residence hall room, the library and most laboratories. The laptop you buy also entitles you to software that will be useful in courses throughout your undergraduate career, an external optical mouse, and a carrying case. Additionally, your laptop computer is covered by a 4-year manufacturer's warranty. Rose-Hulman employs laptop technicians that are certified by the computer manufacturer to provide warranty repairs on your laptop during the warranty period. This service is available to you while you are a student at Rose-Hulman. You may also use other certified warranty providers if you are away from the campus, including shipping it to the manufacturer.

If you are using the Cash order form, you pay the total amount due, including 7% Indiana sales tax, by check or credit card. If you use the GATE Loan order form to finance your laptop, you only need to complete the form to initiate the application process for the GATE Laptop Loan with the Financial Aid Office. Do not send your first quarterly payment with your laptop order. Note that all students, regardless of their state of residence, are required to pay Indiana sales tax.

Yes. The committee that selected the HP 8510w laptop computer and the software suite that is pre-loaded on it was careful to ensure that you can. While the rapid march of computer technology guarantees that more advanced units will be available before you graduate, your unit will be powerful enough for most of your classroom work throughout your career at Rose-Hulman. The available software will be usable in upper level as well as entry-level course work. Of course, just as upper level courses require different textbooks, you may need to buy additional software as you move through the curriculum.

You are required to purchase the laptop computer specified by the Institute: the HP 8510w, described on the order forms. This is necessary to ensure that you have a computer that can be serviced by the Institute and is compatible with the campus network that delivers service to classrooms, laboratories and residence hall rooms. Other units may not satisfy these requirements. The required laptop computer, the HP 8510w, gives you network capability and the ability to run the software that you will need in your academic classes. The large variety of laptops on the market makes it impossible for Rose-Hulman to provide maintenance service or assistance to you with a laptop other than the HP 8510w. For these reasons, other laptop computers will not satisfy the laptop computer requirement.

Yes! If you want to finance your laptop computer, use the GATE Laptop Loan order form in your packet. The details of the GATE Laptop Loan are given in the Rose-Hulman Laptop Program Implementation and Policy Details document. Only students who enter Rose-Hulman as freshmen in 2008 are eligible to participate in the GATE Laptop Loan. Of course, if you wish, you may pay for your laptop computer up front and not participate in the GATE Laptop Loan program.

Yes. If you leave Rose-Hulman, you are still responsible for the balance on your loan. While you may be able to sell the unit to someone else, Rose-Hulman does not provide resale services. However, the Institute may have the names of other students who wish to purchase your computer. Rose-Hulman is under no obligation to buy back the laptop computer.

We certainly hope so. Rose-Hulman has negotiated the best price that it could get from the vendor. That price includes both educational and volume purchase discounts. The available software is an especially good bargain. The individual prices of each software package sell for as much or more than the price you pay for both the computer hardware and the use of the software during your undergraduate studies at Rose-Hulman. The software licenses are for your use as a student at Rose-Hulman; they are not for individual or commercial use. The price you pay for the laptop computer is the same price Rose-Hulman must pay for the laptop. While the volatility of the computer market makes it impossible to guarantee that the price you pay is the lowest available anywhere, we make a concerted effort to ensure that it is.

No. All new students will receive their laptops at an orientation session to ensure that everyone receives complete information about the computer, including its warranty, insurance coverage, software usage and Rose-Hulman's policy regarding the responsible and ethical use of computers.

No. To ensure that we give you the best price we can, we can only sell units to Rose-Hulman students. You will be able to buy only one computer each year. No more than one laptop computer can be purchased through the GATE Laptop Loan.

The HP 8510w laptop computer, memory and hard drive can be upgraded with reasonable ease at a later date. Upgrades must be installed by an HP authorized service technician to ensure the warranty on the laptop computer is not voided.

At Rose-Hulman. The school has arranged for technicians working in the Technical Services Center to be certified by the laptop manufacturer to do warranty repair work. If you have a question or service need, take your laptop to the Technical Services Center Help Desk located on the lower level of Crapo Hall. (Also see the responses to Questions 14-16)

Laptop batteries are just like those for our portable CD players, radios and handheld video games. If they go bad, we buy new ones. The laptop battery will be replaced free by the manufacturer only during your freshman year. After that, you will have to purchase a replacement if yours fails and you want to operate your computer on battery power. The battery you receive with your computer is a lithium-ion battery.

Your laptop computer is very portable and very valuable, making it an attractive target for thieves. Therefore, the Rose-Hulman laptop insurance is a requirement. Students who enter in the Fall of 2008 will be enrolled in the insurance policy (See Question 24) and will be billed each academic quarter for insurance. The policy covers the basic unit at the current rate of $4.50 per $100 of its value. You will be responsible for paying the deductible. The current deductible is $750 for theft or loss, $250 for drops or spills. Changes in rates and/or deductible are posted on the Technical Services Center website. The HP 8510w is covered by HP's Accidental Damage Plan. Accidental Damage is defined as physical damage to a Product caused by or resulting from a fortuitous incident. Covered perils include fire; non-intentional liquid spills in or on the unit, drops, falls, collisions, and electrical surge. This includes damaged or broken LCD, or broken parts. Accidental Damage does NOT COVER theft, loss, normal wear, consumables, and intentional acts of damage or exclusions as detailed in the Accidental Damage Policy.

The best insurance is to take care of your laptop. To prevent damage, do not move the laptop while it is on, plug and unplug accessories carefully, and do not drink near the laptop. To prevent theft or loss, lock your residence hall or apartment when you leave. Do not leave your laptop unattended in a building, classroom, lobby or car. Always know where your laptop is! Above all, take your computer home over breaks, or ask us to store it for you.

Yes. The Technical Services Center technical staff will coordinate maintenance for students purchasing the HP 8510w. Students who enter in the Fall of 2008 will be covered by a maintenance agreement for items described in the HP warranty agreement, which is a part of the Laptop Computer Policy Statement. Please consult the warranty agreement so that you understand what is, and what is not, covered. In many cases we will be able to make immediate repairs. However, other repairs may either require parts to be ordered or the laptop be returned to the manufacturer. This maintenance plan does not cover hardware enhancements that you may add after your initial purchase. The responsibility to maintain them lies with the vendor from whom they are purchased.

Yes. Technical Services Center technicians will provide software support while you are an enrolled student. However, we cannot guarantee hardware maintenance past the four year manufacturer's warranty, since it will depend on the availability of parts needed to perform hardware repairs. You will continue to pay the quarterly Technology fee each academic quarter you are enrolled in undergraduate studies at Rose-Hulman.

Rose-Hulman stocks a limited number of laptop computers that can be loaned out on a first come, first-served basis. You will be able to apply for a loaner laptop at the Technical Services Center Help Desk, the same area where you will go for service on your laptop computer. If you are in possession of a loaner, treat it as if it were your own computer. You will be responsible for any damage to the unit or for its loss. You must return the loaner unit within 24 hours of being notified that your computer has been repaired so that others who need a loaner will have access to one. All loaners will be collected before the end of each academic quarter.

No. You are responsible for loading and configuring any additional software you buy. The same is true for software for which we have the legal right to allow you to download from our network. However, Technical Services Center staff will be able to offer advice on loading and configuring the more popular optional software packages. You must be careful when you install additional software so as not to make inadvertent changes that will disable or alter the functionality of the laptop computer. Technicians will return your software to the original Rose-Hulman configuration if additional software is causing your laptop to malfunction. You must be especially careful that software you bring from home, obtain elsewhere, or download from the Internet is virus-free.

You need not own one since printers are located near classrooms, in residence halls, in the library, and in computer labs. You may wish to buy a printer for your convenience; however, Rose-Hulman will not be responsible for it in any way.

You could void the warranty on your laptop by repairing it, installing hardware or allowing your friends to repair it. Technical Service Center, Laptop Services is an authorized representative of the manufacturer of your laptop. Work done by the Technical Services Center technicians is accepted by the manufacturer.

Yes. You will have the capability to backup data to writable CDs and/or DVDs with your laptop. Rose-Hulman can provide procedures for backing up your files. Details are available at the Technical Services Center Help Desk.

This is an optical drive that will write both DVDs (Digital Versatile Disk, Data or Video) and CDs. The LightScribe DVD+/-RW / CDRW combination drive can read, write and, using the appropriate media, rewrite a variety DVD and CD media, including CD-R, CD-RW, DVD+R, DVD-R, DVD+R DL, DVD-R DL, DVD+RW and DVD-RW. DVD+R, DVD-R and CD-R media are compatible with this drive but are a single write media. The DVD+RW, DVD-RW and CD-RW media can be written to multiple times. The maximum write capacity for DVD media is 8.5 gigabytes of information while CD media can store approximately 700 megabytes of information.

The Technical Services Center Help Desk and other Technical Services Center staff members are willing to share their knowledge with you as you consider the available options. Remember, any options added after the initial purchase are not covered by either the laptop warranty or by the laptop insurance policy. Upgrades must be installed by an HP authorized service technician to ensure the warranty on the laptop is not voided.

You should consider what you need to fulfill your class obligations before installing another operating system. Check with the Technical Services Center Help Desk before you install an operating system. Once you install another operating system, you are responsible for maintaining it. The Technical Services Center only supports the operating system originally installed on your laptop.

A summary of the Rose-Hulman laptop insurance plan follows:

Replacement costs are for a laptop computer that is of comparable functionality to the stolen or lost computer. All claims require the insured laptop owner to pay a deductible amount from the repair or replacement cost (See Question 13).

The following excerpt from the purchase agreement gives the details of insurance coverage. The regulations apply to the coverage of all student laptop computers.

1. "STUDENT" assumes full responsibility for the security and protection of the "EQUIPMENT".
2. All payments are due hereunder even if "EQUIPMENT" is destroyed or damaged from casualty or loss or theft.
3. Laptop insurance is included in the quarterly technology fee for the basic unit. An additional charge will be added to the quarterly billing statement for coverage of all upgrades. The policy covers theft, fire, mechanical breakdown, computer virus, electrical current surges, earthquake, flood, faulty construction and accidental damage. There is a $750 deductible for theft or loss. This insurance is required. Laptops of comparable functionality are acceptable replacements in the event a laptop is stolen or damaged beyond repair.
4. In the event the "Equipment" is reported stolen or lost more than twice, there will be no payment made by "RHIT" or the insurer for replacement of the "Equipment" after the second theft or loss claim, and the student will be responsible for replacing his or her "Equipment" at the student's own expense; all payments due hereunder by the student will continue to be due.

NOTE: Rose-Hulman reserves the right to alter the conditions and cost of the insurance policy from year to year depending on the history of theft and damage claims filed by Rose-Hulman students owning laptop computers.

No. The terms of the GATE Laptop Loan program are not modified for variations in the academic calendar. The quarterly Technology Fee is charged only to students who are enrolled and attending classes on the Rose-Hulman campus.

Extra RAM is useful if you want to keep multiple applications open at the same time. It also prevents applications from swapping data to the hard drive and, thus, speeds up certain processes. Your laptop comes with 4GB, of RAM in two slots. This amount of RAM is usually adequate for most students in their undergraduate studies. Four GB is the maximum amount of RAM the laptop can take.